Charlotte , North Carolina -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Laura Zych never liked birds . Ben Bostic feared drowning . They faced their fears when US Airways Flight 1549 hit a flock of geese and crash-landed in the Hudson River .

They were strangers on January 15 , 2009 , when they boarded the fateful flight that would become known as the `` Miracle on the Hudson . '' A year later , they 're in love .

`` The first time people meet you , they want to hear the sensational part '' of the crash , says Ben , 39 .

He prefers to talk about something different : `` I met this wonderful girl because of what we went through that day . ''

Laura , 31 , looks at him , batting her model-like lashes , and smiles . `` We do n't dwell on what happened to us in the crash , '' she says . `` It 's more so on the experiences and lessons that we 've taken from it . ''

` Is this really happening ? '

A buyer for Belk department stores , Laura was in New York for the fashion market . With the nation in the thick of recession , she scooped up bargains for herself . She carried her trendy purchases through the airport that day on her return home to Charlotte , North Carolina .

Wearing a sweater dress , tights and boots , the woman with stylish sandy brown curls was getting a bite to eat when a group of guys asked if she was a model .

`` No , '' she said . `` But I am in the fashion industry . ''

She was traveling with five Belk co-workers . Waiting to board , she fired off e-mails and thought little of the flight home or those around her .

Ben -- who was in New York for a quick business trip for Lending Tree -- caught a glimpse of the 5-foot , 10-inch knockout near the gate .

Later , when they boarded , he noticed her again , coming down the aisle . `` The first thought I had was it 'll be cool if she sits beside me . ''

He was in 20A , a window seat on the left side of the plane . She sat down three rows in front of him , in 17D , on the aisle .

It was one of those fleeting moments every single person knows : You see an intriguing stranger , hope for the best , then move on .

Ben picked up a book and began reading . Laura , who did n't notice Ben , thumbed through a Glamour magazine .

At the helm of the Airbus A320 was Chesley `` Sully '' Sullenberger , a 57-year-old former Air Force fighter jet pilot . He 'd been flying for four decades , for US Airways since 1980 . His expertise was about to mean everything .

About 90 seconds into the flight , the plane -- traveling at 250 mph and carrying 150 passengers and five crew -- struck a flock of geese .

Some passengers described hearing a series of loud thumps .

`` One lady screamed , '' Ben recalls .

He looked out the window . `` The whole back of the engine was pretty much engulfed in flames , just shooting out of the back , '' he says .

He thought : `` This is n't good . ''

The plane banked to the left . The smell of burning geese , feathers and flames wafted through the cabin . With neither engine working , a silence fell over the jet as it glided through the skies . People began whispering . Some thought they were going back to LaGuardia .

Sullenberger came over the speaker system . `` Brace for impact , '' he said .

`` The most harrowing thing I 'd ever heard in my life , '' Ben recalls . `` I thought for a second : Is this really it ? Am I going to die ? ''

Three rows in front of him , Laura thought about calling her family . She decided against it . If I die , what a depressing message that would be to leave on a message machine , she thought .

And what would she say if they did answer ?

`` Guess what ? In 60 seconds , you 're not going to be talking to me any more . ''

She crouched down , prepared for impact . `` Is this really happening ? ''

Fear of birds and drowning

Laura grew up on a farm in Minnesota and had lived in Fargo , North Dakota , for the past 12 years . She 'd jumped at the chance to take on a bigger role with Belk in Charlotte . But her focus on career meant there was n't much time for relationships while jet-setting around for work .

Ben was a Carolina native , and he also poured his energy into work . The software developer at Lending Tree was divorced with no children . Nearing 40 , he found his career rewarding , yet felt something was missing .

Both had fears that stemmed from their youths . Her bird phobia was rooted in days on the farm , where her grandmother kept chickens . Once , a bird pooped on Laura 's shoulder , sending her into tears .

As she got older , her disdain for birds grew . When she traveled to New York on business , the abundance of pigeons sometimes terrified her .

Ben 's fear -- of drowning -- went back to an experience he had when he was 8 . On a beach outing with his family , his raft drifted out from shore and then flipped over .

He scrambled to try to get back on , but kept falling back into the sea .

He never relished the water again .

` We connected '

As the plane glided silently through the air , Ben peeked out the window every once in a while . He could see they were headed straight toward water .

`` Just make it quick so I do n't have to suffer , '' he thought .

The Airbus splashed into the frigid waters of the Hudson River .

The clank of seatbelts unbuckling rattled inside the plane . Water lapped at Laura 's leather boots . She grabbed her wallet and her cell phone with a GPS tracking device . It 'll be easier for rescuers to find my body and identify me , she thought .

She exited to the left and onto a wing . While bobbing up and down there , she called her father . `` Dad , this is Laura . I 've been in a plane crash . ''

When things calmed down and she knew she would be rescued , she found comic relief in what brought the plane down .

`` You do realize my fear of birds is justified , '' she told her parents .

`` OK , we 'll give you that one , '' they responded .

Inside the plane , a bottleneck of passengers blocked some exits . A flight attendant in first class waved passengers to the front . Ben climbed over the seats .

At the door , he looked out and saw water all around . Clutching tight to his seat cushion , he jumped into a raft . With survivors packed in like sardines , he worried the raft might tip .

Later , safe on shore , Ben 's colleagues who were also on the flight saluted life and told him : You know what we 'd be doing tonight if we were single !

Ben thought about the woman with the long legs and curly hair . He wondered what happened to her .

From Facebook friends to dating

A bottle of Maker 's Mark bourbon helped ease Ben 's charter flight home to Charlotte that night . In the media blitz that followed , Laura noticed Ben for the first time on television . They became Facebook friends .

Flight 1549 survivors -- whose stories were compiled in the book `` Miracle on the Hudson , '' published late last year -- formed support groups . They considered `` Sully '' their hero , each other family .

Six months after the crash , when about 20 survivors and their families gathered at a home near Charlotte , Ben and Laura met in person for the first time .

`` I was checking you out on the plane , '' he told her .

They went clubbing with a third survivor that night . Then the two stayed up talking until 6 in the morning . They shared secrets , their views on life 's opportunities . `` We connected , '' Laura says .

They took it slow at first . Neither was looking for a relationship . `` We were family , '' Ben says , `` and we did n't want to ruin that aspect of it . ''

Eventually , sparks lit .

Despite their bond , the last year has had its difficulties . They wonder why they survived when , a month later , all 50 people aboard a Buffalo commuter jet died .

Both have sought counseling . They take anti-anxiety medication to ease air travel . Ben never sits at a window seat .

Weeks after the flight , the airline returned salvaged personal belongings to survivors . Laura received a white envelope , labeled with a number . Inside was her waterlogged Glamour magazine .

`` It put me back in that seat , '' she says , tears in her eyes .

Four other boxes of returned items sit unopened in a spare bedroom . She does n't know whether to throw them out or save them .

`` Things in there must not be that important , '' she says . `` All the priorities were reset after January 15 . ''

Her relationship with Ben , she says , is another `` positive outcome '' from that day .

`` We kind of pick each other up if we start to slip , '' Ben says . `` What 's better than smiling and laughing and love ? ''

They 're speaking about their relationship , Laura says , because too much news dwells on the negative . Their message is the opposite .

`` Think about how you want to write today 's page , '' Ben says . `` Live , laugh , love and dance like tomorrow 's not guaranteed . ''

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Laura Zych and Ben Bostic had never met before the `` Miracle on Hudson '' flight

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They began dating after meeting in person six months after the plane crash

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Their motto : Live in the moment , laugh , love

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All 155 people aboard US Airways Flight 1549 survived the January 15 , 2009 , crash